This pesto toast with roasted cherry tomatoes is a great summer appetizer or light lunch! This is a great way to use up garden tomatoes and basil with little effort.
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Did you know appetizers can also make a great meal?
This pesto toast with oven roasted cherry tomatoes can be an appetizer or a simple supper when paired with a salad or other vegetables. It would also be great as a light lunch, or consider bringing it to your next potluck.
Pesto toast with oven roasted cherry tomatoes
If you love simple recipes, this is the one for you. The tomatoes get soft and sweet in the oven. You can use homemade or store bought pesto. All you need is some shaved parmesan cheese and you're ready to go!
Forgive me that this is barely a recipe. Quantities and time aren't as important as taste and appearance.
Your own judgment will tell you how much pesto you like. Use your eyes to help toast your bread to your liking.
Ingredients
- Cherry tomatoes
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- French baguette
- Garlic
- Pesto
- Parmesan cheese
How to make pesto toast with roasted cherry tomatoes
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Place the tomatoes on a sheet pan and drizzle with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until the tomatoes begin to collapse and release some of their juices, about 15-20 minutes.
- Preheat the broiler to high and arrange an oven rack to the highest position.
- On another baking sheet, arrange baguette slices. Drizzle each side lightly with olive oil. Broil, flipping once, until the baguette slices are lightly toasted. Remove from the oven and immediately rub each slice with the cut side of the garlic.
- To prepare the toast, top each slice of baguette with a thick layer of pesto, a few roasted tomatoes, and a few shavings of Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Top tips
Use a high quality, crusty baguette
This is not the time for a soft, Italian loaf of bread. You want a crusty baguette for this so you can make a good, sturdy toast.
How to shave parmesan
I like to use a vegetable peeler (affiliate link) to shave thin sheets of parmesan cheese. Hold the wedge of cheese firmly in one hand and use the other hand to shave off some cheese, using your thumb on the peeler hand to offer resistance and balance as needed.
The best pesto for pesto toast
You can use whatever your favorite pesto is, either store bought or homemade, for this recipe. I like my homemade basil pesto, pistachio pesto, walnut arugula pesto, and spinach pesto!
Tips for customizing pesto toast with roasted cherry tomatoes
- Swap the cherry tomatoes for grape or campari tomatoes
- Use burrata or feta instead of parmesan cheese
- Skip the roasting and make this burrata with tomatoes, pesto, and toast
- Sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes and/or microgreens
- Add a layer of plain hummus before adding the pesto
FAQ
Most parmesan cheese is not vegetarian because it is made with animal rennet. If this is important to you, look for a parmesan cheese made with vegetable rennet.
Rubbing the warm toast with a cut clove of garlic mellows out the garlic flavor by grabbing little bits of garlic in the crusty toast without being too much raw garlic. I suggest cutting the garlic clove lengthwise to give yourself the most surface area.
More easy vegetarian recipes
- Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
- Burrata with Pesto, Tomatoes, and Toast
- Baked Pita Chips
- Roasted Chickpeas
- Apple, Honey, and Goat Cheese Appetizer
- Stuffed Mushrooms
- White Bean Crostini Appetizer
- Whipped Feta Dip
- Taco Dip
- Green Avocado Sauce
- Avocado Chimichurri Dip
If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Recipe
Pesto Toast with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- Olive oil
- Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 whole wheat baguette, sliced
- 1 clove garlic, halved
- Pesto
- Parmesan cheese, thinly shaved
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Place the tomatoes on a sheet pan and drizzle with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until the tomatoes begin to collapse and release some of their juices, about 15-20 minutes.
- Preheat the broiler to high and arrange an oven rack to the highest position.
- On another baking sheet, arrange baguette slices. Drizzle each side lightly with olive oil. Broil, flipping once, until the baguette slices are lightly toasted. Remove from the oven and immediately rub each slice with the cut side of the garlic.
- To prepare the toast, top each slice of baguette with a thick layer of pesto, a few roasted tomatoes, and a few shavings of Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
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